SIMIS Digital Economics Workshop: Self-Preferencing and Welfare in Hybrid Platforms

Speaker: 胡博 (复旦大学)

Time: 2026-04-11 15:35–16:10
Location: Auditorium Hall, Level 18, SIMIS
Zoom Meeting ID: 898 9915 3556 (Passcode: SIMIS)

Abstract:

Regulatory efforts to ban self-preferencing—the practice of hybrid platforms favoring their own products—are gaining traction. Our model reveals that this practice goes beyond simply disadvantaging rivals; platforms use it strategically to prevent marketplace saturation by curbing excessive seller entry. We show that an outright ban can backfire. By forcing the platform to use a blunter instrument—high commission fees—a ban may over-deter entry, ultimately harming consumers and reducing social welfare. The negative welfare outcome can occur under both a large and a small first-party presence.

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About Speaker:

胡博，复旦大学经济学院副教授。荷兰丁伯根研究所经济学博士、计量经济学硕士（cum laude），西南财经大学经济学学士。研究领域为平台经济、中介经济、搜寻与匹配、信用与支付。论文发表于国内外一流期刊 Rand Journal of Economics、Review of Economic Dynamics、《经济研究》、《财贸经济》等。兼任复旦-图卢兹创新与数字经济研究院研究员，上海市国际经济与金融研究院学术研究员。主持国家自然科学基金面上项目（2025）、青年科学基金项目（2021），上海市 “浦江人才” 项目（2021）；参与国家社科重大项目、哲学社会科学领军人才项目。